Education alliance offers GPS, vernal pool programs in Topsham

TOPSHAM — The Cathance River Education Alliance is offering programs on Global Positioning Systems and vernal pools this month.

State forester Ken Canfield will discuss GPS at the Ecology Center on the Cathance River Nature Preserve from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 15. He will give a basic introduction to GPS, describing how to use a GPS unit, flag a location and navigate through the forest.

The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Those interested are asked to sign up early, since only 12 participants are allowed per class.

This will be the first of CREA’s new “Adult Classes” series, held at the Cathance River Nature Preserve the second Saturday of each month.

CREA’s presentation on vernal pools will take place at the Topsham Public Library from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 25. The talk will touch on the difference between a vernal pool and a pond, as well as the reason that vernal pools are an integral part of the woodland habitat for many animals.

This will be the first class in CREA’s new “Ecology Lecture” series, held at the library the last Tuesday of the month.

All lectures in CREA’s “Ecology Lecture” series are free and open to the public.